Noodle Waterslide: Because food should have fun too

What's that about not playing with your food? But seeing as the Noodle Waterslide's from Japanese toymaker Bandai, it does wear the label of "toy." Still, this not only brings back memories of another noodle device, the USB-powered noodle strainer, it's actually a replica of the flowing somen specialty called nagashi somen, which I so wanted to try out while visiting Japan. Too bad this summer delight is found mainly in the Hyogo prefecture.

Here, thin somen is put in water flowing along a long bamboo gutter where you catch the noodles with your chopsticks, dip them in a cold broth, and well, dig in. While plastic doesn't quite replace bamboo, it's one way to have summer somen at home anytime you fancy playing with your food. The Noodle Waterslide just slithered out in Japan for 8400 yen ($85).

The somen starts its journey from the little house at the top of the slide and ends up in a strainer at the bottom.
Bandai